Volkswagen Australia - What's going on here?

[Fish Jetski]

So.....just before Christmas I got an email from VW Australia. "Congratulations...your Golf R is not affected by diesel gate...also it's not on the CO2 list"...signed by Michael Bartsch Managing Director no less!

So I responded with an email that suggested that they go through their own spec list to work out that as a petrol only model of course my Golf R was not affected by the diesel emissions issue.

The 'Customer Care Frontline Advisor' then sent me an email containing a letter also signed by Mick (we're mates now, he's sent me two personally signed letters) apologising profusely for the error of inclusion of my e-mail in the e-mail mailing list and to disregard the previous letter in its entirety.

Ok...so what about the November CO2 emissions thing, including the pictures of my Lapiz Blue Mk VII Golf R as the poster child for the media (drive.com.au/motor-news/volkswagen-admits-emissions-figures-are-implausible-20151117-gl0t6o)...so I sent a letter to the customer care frontline to ask about whether my car was affected.

He promptly e-mailed me back telling me that they will issue further information 'soon'.

Hmmm...not really happy about that, so I highlighted that this could be a major issue as CO2 = fuel use, and if you lied about CO2 you lied about Fuel Use and this Golf R here burns the same as my old WRX Sti given the same 'driving style' and conditions but claims around 3l/100km less fuel.

So...me frontline mate sends me an e-mail saying that 'a technical solution will be available soon' and I will be able to 'book my car in to get it fixed'.

WHOA BOY! You want to reduce my CO2? What, by reducing my fuel use and running it lean? Doesn't this reduce the power? What do you think that will do to my resale mate?

He must have caught the yips because the next two emails from him were standard responses.

Wondering why, I thought I would make a call to VW and talk to the Frontline directly. The lady appeared knowledgeable and said...'your car is not on ze list!'. I said, that's great but I want confirmation in writing from you.

So today I got an email containing a signed letter on VW Australia letterhead that my car is not included in any issue pertaining to CO2. It contains my VIN reference, so when I go to sell my little beauty I can show it to a prospective buyer and they can feel safe and sure that VW has approved that they did not cheat on my cars emissions. Right?

But...what if they're not right? With 4 backflips in 3 weeks I am a little worried that this issue is not over yet.


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[tuzii]

cool story bro
if you dont like your car sell it.
im sure more factors than the CO2 emissions influenced you to buy the car.

in this world, if you want a vw, can afford a vw, you will buy a vw, thats as simple as it is.

/getoverit

[Lucas_R]

WHOA BOY! You want to reduce my CO2? What, by reducing my fuel use and running it lean? Doesn't this reduce the power? What do you think that will do to my resale .

You should see how lean the Mk7 R's run from the factory.....no room to run them any leaner.

[Fish Jetski]

im sure more factors than the CO2 emissions influenced you to buy the car.

Interesting you should say that...in my case the CO2 was a critical component of my decision. In Newstead Qld the VW and Subaru stealerships are next to each other. I test drove both the R and Sti back to back and being an Sti owner I was leaning more towards the genuine AWD of the Subaru over the nicer power delivery and Q Car feel of the premium R.

Then price came into it and the R was $2k more - but I was sold on the fact that at 3l/100km less, even at 10,000 km per year I would make that up during ownership over 3-4 years. CO2 was very much a key component of the decision as the Sti had made headway in the interior stakes, and the R was a lot more powerful than the previous version.

I love my R, I really do (except that the door handle fell off and the park brake was faulty within the first 12 months - but both of those were VW known issues and fixed under warranty).

Unfortunately, my actual fuel records show fuel usage in the R is no better than my Sti. And now I have two toddler seats in the back I'm driving it in a more sedate manner as well.

So what it comes down to is that I don't like VW Australia because I think they cheated and are still probably lying to me about my Golf R CO2 emissions (and therefore fuel use).


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[VW Convert]

So.....just before Christmas I got an email from VW Australia. "Congratulations...your Golf R is not affected by diesel gate...also it's not on the CO2 list"...signed by Michael Bartsch Managing Director no less!

I'm not sure it's good form to put quotation marks and then change the text to something different from the text of the email you received. I received a similar (perhaps identical) email signed by Michael Bartsch just before Christmas telling me my petrol Eos was also not affected by the "diesel emissions recall". It also stated quite clearly:-

"You may have also read articles concerning CO2 emission levels on some of our petrol vehicles. I can confirm no Australian vehicles are impacted by any CO2 matters."

I left it at that.

Cheers

George

[Fish Jetski]

"You may have also read articles concerning CO2 emission levels on some of our petrol vehicles. I can confirm no Australian vehicles are impacted by any CO2 matters."

That was the quote in my letter too (I included this in my original post?). My original e-mail to VW was more about them sending an email out to petrol owners where the main point is (and they put this in bold) 'unaffected by the diesel emissions recall'.

So when they wrote back and withdrew the WHOLE letter, I was very surprised as I expected them to stick with the CO2 story too...I just wanted a clear notice in writing for my car, which is only fair given the media on the issue to date.

Upon review I do take your point that my quoting in the initial post was not word for word, but it's all in writing so it's pretty black and white. Normally I quote verbatim, must have been tired late at night...


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[VW Convert]

That was the quote in my letter too (I included this in my original post?). My original e-mail to VW was more about them sending an email out to petrol owners where the main point is (and they put this in bold) 'unaffected by the diesel emissions recall'.

So when they wrote back and withdrew the WHOLE letter, I was very surprised as I expected them to stick with the CO2 story too...I just wanted a clear notice in writing for my car, which is only fair given the media on the issue to date.

Upon review I do take your point that my quoting in the initial post was not word for word, but it's all in writing so it's pretty black and white. Normally I quote verbatim, must have been tired late at night...


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I think your letting your anger at VW affect your enjoyment of the car.

My guess is that VWA is in damage control mode and trying too hard to reassure unaffected owners (which of course includes petrol engine cars) thus someone decided to send this to petrol engine VW owners also. I read the email, had a chuckle and ignored it, I think you should do likewise and enjoy the car you chose to purchase, nothing has changed in that regard.

Cheers

George

[Fish Jetski]

I think your letting your anger at VW affect your enjoyment of the car.

My guess is that VWA is in damage control mode and trying too hard to reassure unaffected owners (which of course includes petrol engine cars) thus someone decided to send this to petrol engine VW owners also. I read the email, had a chuckle and ignored it, I think you should do likewise and enjoy the car you chose to purchase, nothing has changed in that regard.

Cheers

George

Hi George,

You're right that I am angry at VW and I agree that VWA is running around not quite managing this right.

But you are wrong about me not enjoying the car - I certainly do that!

Maybe I am less laid back in approach than you in this case and want the VW corporate behemoth and its VWA representative to be professional and accountable. That said - maybe I am kidding myself in that fanciful notion...

Thanks for your point of view - I have taken your perspective on board.


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[VW Convert]

Maybe I am less laid back in approach than you in this case and want the VW corporate behemoth and its VWA representative to be professional and accountable. That said - maybe I am kidding myself in that fanciful notion...

Don't hold your breath waiting for VWA to be professional and accountable! LOL

Cheers

George

[dening]

My guess is that VWA is in damage control mode and trying too hard to reassure unaffected owners (which of course includes petrol engine cars) thus someone decided to send this to petrol engine VW owners also. I read the email, had a chuckle and ignored it, I think you should do likewise and enjoy the car you chose to purchase, nothing has changed in that regard.

Cheers

George

This is what I thought. Vw are just trying to reassure anyone not sure that everything is cool. I of course know my gti is fine but had of course been jokingly told by a lot of people my car was a dud. They are just trying to inform people of the facts.

Honestly even if I had a diesel I wouldn't care. It'd still be perfectly fine for Australian and European laws and my car and enjoyment would be completely unchanged.

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[Umai Naa!!]

in this world, if you want a vw, can afford a vw, you will buy a vw, thats as simple as it is.

In a nutshell.